Tax Disc No More

The tax disc that UK road vehicles are required to display is being discontinued from October next year. The disc is proof of payment of vehicle excise duty (commonly known as road tax) The duty will still have to be paid you just won't get a disc in future. The tax disc is considered to be redundant because checking is now done by registration plate reading cameras. The disc was first introduced in 1921. 

An old tax disc from my CBF250. This is a "duplicate" because someone (ahem) did not propertly tighten the bolt that held the disc holder in place.

CBF Caliper Clean

If you're going to ride a bike through the Scottish winter then you're going to become an expert at servicing disc brake calipers. The rain, salt & muck that is flying about affects the caliper and eventually leads to them seizing up.

The CBF's caliper was ok but I stripped & cleaned it based on the principle that prevention is better than cure.

Looks a bit rough

Looks very rough

 

Parts to be cleaned up

The caliper cleaned up ok with white spirit & and an old tooth brush. I didn't have to remove the pistons.

The pistons are pushed back using a clamp

The pads have a little life in then but I've got a spare set ready.

The carrier gets a coat of paint

Caliper re-fitted

Kelpies

Way back in the early days of this blog I mentioned the Kelpie horse statues at the Falkirk Wheel here. These were models of huge statues to be constructed at the Helix Park development centred round the east end of the Forth & Clyde Canal between Falkirk & Grangemouth.

The full size statues are now complete and I took a run over today on the CBF in bright & mild conditions. Work is ongoing in the area around the statues but there is a good view from the far bank of the canal.

Sculptor Andy Scott's website here

Fuel Stabilizer

With the FJs in hibernation I decided to fill their tanks (to prevent internal corrosion) and put in fuel stabilizer. The new bike won't be used until next April and I don't know when the old one will be back on the road. Advice varies on how long fuel lasts - seems 6 months is about the limit. The problem is that fuel oxidises and becomes gummy. I left half a tank in a bike for about 5 years and the tank above the fuel was heavily corroded and the fuel in the tap had turned to brown chewing gum. I've never had a problem with a bike stored without stabilizer over the winter but since the possible damage to carburettors is serious it seems like cheap insurance.

Past Bikes - 1977 MZ TS150

Used exclusively as a commuter in the early '80s. It was well made with deep red paintwork but dodgy 6V electrics. Hitting a bump could pop a fuse out and stop the bike. It was a basic two stroke design using oil mixture in the petrol tank for lubrication. I remember the bike most for my only big crash when I ran into the back of a car and ended up in hospital for three months with a broken leg - I've still got the limp 32 years later. It was also the cheapest bike I've bought - £70, I think. I couldn't have liked the bike much because when it stopped going, with an ignition problem, I gave it way.

I look quite happy under the circumstances - it must be the drugs

Featured Bike - 2014 Brough Superior

Mark Upham, who runs a classic bike parts company, bought the rights to the Brough Superior name and has produced this modern version of the '20's/'30's bike. It has the Brough's distinctive tank & exhausts along with girder forks. The bike even has four disc front brakes to mimic the diameter of the original's drum. This prototype was built by French company Boxer Design using a V-twin engine developed by Akira (also French) The intention is to establish a factory in England to produce the bike.   

Featured Bike - Caterham Brutus 750

Sports car maker Caterham have announced that they will be producing motorcycles from next year. The company is best know for building the Super Seven since the early '70's when they bought the rights from Lotus.

There are two electric bikes, one futuristic and one 20's retro, but the surprise is the Brutus. It has a 750cc single cylinder engine with variable belt transmission (like a scooter). The Brutus has huge balloon off-road tyres giving the look of a cross between a Rokon & a Suzuki Van Van on steroids. Also the bike can be converted into a snowmobile!

Super Seven

Suzuki Van Van 125

 

Rokon